Hannibal w



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. W. RAPPIAHYE.v

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS POR GONDENSING FUMES 0R GASES.

No. 601,677. PatentedApr. 5,1898.

WITNESSES: /Nf/E/VTR mom/5M UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD F AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING FUMES 0R GASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,677, dated April 5, 1898. Application tiled August 14:, 1897. Serial N0. 648,234. (No model.)

Apparatus for Condensing Fumes or Gases, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object certain improvements in the method of condensing fumes and gases and in apparatus for carrying out said method.

It` consists in conveying water to the top of a condenser, holding it in temporary suspension, and at the same time diffusing it overa large area, cooling the water while so suspended by a draft of air, and then causing the Water to trickle down into and through a passage containing the fumes or gases to be condensed leading from the smelting-furnace or other source, thus causing a partial condensation of the fumes. The fumes then pass into a condenser consisting, preferably, of a rotary conveyer formed of an Archimedean screw, the revolution of this screw drawing in the gas or fumes from the main chamber into a small division thereof.

described. An exhaust-fan is located at thev top for the purpose of drawing the air up through the brushwood.

The invention willbe better understood by y reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a section on line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a section on line A 4 of Fig. 1.

A` is a gas-inlet pipe leading to the condensing-chamber B. A short distance above the gas-inlet is arranged a horizontal framework composed of `the slats or girders C, ex-

tending between the walls of the condensingchamber and forming an open-work compartment designed to support a mass of looselypacked brush D, which nearly iills the upper part of the chamber.

F is a partition extending inwardly from one side of the condensing-chamber below the surface of the 'water in the bottom of the conrevolves with the spindle E2, which is revolved by any desired means. This type of rotary screw-cylinder is fully described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 557,880, issued to me April 7, 1896, and forms nopart of my present invention.

I prefer to arrange my apparatus so that the water may be 4taken from the lower part of the condensing-chamber to the top thereof and allowed to descend throughthe condenser to the bottom, thus completing the circuit and thus saving the by-products heldin suspension in the water, and also in case therev should be` any scarcity of water making it necessary to supply `only such quantities of fresh water as will compensate for the water lost by evaporation. To this endl project a pipe Gr' from the side of the condensing-chamber a short distance below the level of the water therein and connect the horizontally-disposed perforated water-distributing spray-pipes I-I (shown in plan in Fig. 2) near the roof of va condensing-chamber withy a pipe H', extending through the roof and down along the side of the condensing-chamber in proximity to the pipe Gr', and interpo'se between pipes H and G apump G on an elevated platform alongside of the condensing-chamber. By

this arrangement Water is pumped from the Ido ' and through the brushwood D.

Immediately beneath the openwork bottom C of the.brush-compartment are arranged the horizontally-disposed air-distributing pipes I,

.(shown in plan in Fig. 4,) connected to an air-supply pipe I'. These pipes I are provided with perforations in their upper surfaces, and the dripping water is, prevented from entering therein by means of the air-pipe shields J, secured to the bottom of the slats or gird-j ers C.

Immediately above the gas-inlet pipe A and ubelow the air-distributing pipes I is a perforated horizontal partition K,eXte`nding from wall to wall of the condensing-chamber, and kbelow this partition K are the staggered horizontalwalls K. The perforations are small, so that the water constantly dripping through them will form practically a seal to prevent the escape of the gas or fumes, except directly through the staggered passage, andthe object of this staggered arrangement of walls isto afford a long passage for the gas or fumes, so as to give ample time for carrying on the process of condensation, which is effected by the Water previously cooled by the draft of air through the brush coming in contact with the fumes or gas as it drips through the perforations of the staggered walls.

At the extremetop of the condensing-chamber above the spray-pipes H is an air-chamber L in communication with an exhaust-fan M, arranged exteriorly of the condensingchamber. By revolving the exhaust-fan a constant circulation of air is induced from the air-distributing pipes I through the brush D.

N is the gas-outlet pipe eXtendin g from the side of the condensing-chamber immediatel below the -partition F.

At the bottom of the condensing-chamber is a water-outlet pipe O, through which the water is drawn off when it is desired to supply entirely fresh water to the apparatus or when access to the bottom of the tank is desired to remove the solid matter deposited thereon.

The operation of the apparatus is probably sufficiently clear from the foregoing description, but it may be summarized as follows: The pump is first set into operation to withdraw the water from the bottom of the condensing-chamber and raise it through pipes G and I-I to perforated pipes H. The water is distributed through these pipes and is sprayed through the perforations thereof onto vthe brush D, through which it percolates.

The exhaust-fan at the same time is caused to revolve by any suitable means, inducing a current of air through the'brush, reducing l .the temperature of the water percolating through the same. The water thus cooled walls K. The fumes or gases are then admitted through the pipe A and pass back and forth between the perforated staggered Walls. The action of the Water upon the gas or fumes Aprecipitates much of the solid matter previously held in suspension. The remaining stepvof the process is effected in the spiral conveyer E, the solid matter remaining in suspension being precipitated therein and the refuse passing out through pipe N.

I do not intend to limit myself to any specific construction of condensing-chamber nor to the means I have described for suspending and diffusing the water vWhile the current of air is passed over it' to cool it; nor do I intend to limit myself to any particular feature of construction hereinbefore described, except by those claims wherein such particular feature is expressly set out as part of the combination claimed.

Having now fully described my invention,

what Iclaim, and desire to protect by Letters l. The process of condensing fumes, gases and the like, which consists in holding water in temporary suspension and in diffusing it over a large area while so suspended, cooling the water While' so suspended by passing a current of air, through it, and directing the water so cooled and diffused upon the gases or fumes to be condensed.

2. The process of condensing fumes, gases and the like, which consists in holding Water in temporary suspension and diffusing the same over a large area, cooling the water so suspended by a current of air, directing the water so cooled and diffused upon the gases or fumes to be condensed, and retarding the passage of the water through the same.

3. The process of condensing fumes, gases and the like Within a condensing-chamber, which consists in holding Water in temporary suspension and diffusing the same over a large area, cooling the water so suspended by a current of air, directing thel water so cooled and diffused upon the gases or fumes to be condensed, retarding the passage of the water th rough the same, and then withdrawing such water from the condensingchamber and again conveying it to the said medium.

4. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber having in its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending and diffusing medium,said compartment having a bottom adapted to lpermit the passage of the water therethrough, means to admit Water into the upperI part of said'compartment, means for passing a current of air through said compartment'to cool the water therein, and means to admit the Vfumes or gases to be condensed into said fcondensingchamber beneath said compartment.

5. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber having in its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending IOO densed and adapted to permit the passage of the water through the perforations thereof, and means to admit the fumes or gases to be lcondensed into said passage.

6. In an apparatus for condensing fumes,

gases and the like, the combination of a con- 'densing-chamber having in its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending and diffusing medium, said compartment having a bottom adapted to permit the passage of the water therethrough, a water-inlet pipe, perforated water-distributin g pipes arranged in the upper part of the condensing-chamber adapted to distribute `water into the upper part of said compartment and communicating with the water-inlet pipe, an air-inlet pipe, perforated air-distributing pipes arranged in said condensing-chamber adapted to distribute air into the lower part of said compartment, an air-exhaust fan in connection with the upper part of said condensing-chamber adapted to withdraw the air from the air-distributing pipes upwardly through said compartmennand means to admit the 'fumes or gases to be condensed into said chamber-beneath said compartment.

7. In an apparatus for condensing-fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber having in its upper part a compartment containing a Water suspending and diifusing medium, said compartment having a bottom adapted to permit the passage of the Water therethrough, a water-inlet pipe, perforated water-distributing pipes arranged in the upper part of the condensing-chamber adapted to distribute water into the upper part of said compartment and communicating with the water-inlet pipe, an air-inlet pipe, perforated air-distributing pipes arranged in said.eondensingchamber adapted to distribute air into the lower part of said compartment, an air-exhaust fan in connection with the upper part of said condensing-chamber adapted to withdraw the air from the air-distributing pipes upwardly through the said compartment, perforated walls in said condensing-chamber beneath said compartment forming a passage for the fumes or gases to be condensed and adapted to permit the passage of the water through the perforations thereof, and a gas or fume inlet pipe' communicating with the passage so formed.

S. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber `having in its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending and diusing medium, said compartment having a bottom adapted to permit the passage of the water therethrough, means to admit Water into the upper part of said compart ment, means for passing a current of air through said compartment to cool the Water therein, means to admit the fumes or gases to be condensed into said condensing-chamber beneath said compartment, and a rotary spiral cylinder condenser in the lower part of the condensing-chamber.

9. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber having in its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending and diffusing medium, said compartmenthaving a bottom adapted to permit the passage of the Water therethrough, means to ad mit Wa; ter into the upper part of said compartment, means for passing a current of air through said compartment to cool the Water therein, perforated Walls in said condensing-chamber beneath said compartment, forminga passage for the fumes or gases to be `condensed and adapted to permit the passage of the Water through the perforations thereof, means to admit the fumes or gases to be condensed into said passage, and a rotary spiral cylinder -condenser in the lower part of the condensing-chamber.

l0. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of a condensing-chamber having in its upper part al compartment containing a water suspending and diffusing medium,said compartment having av bottom adapted to permit the passage of the water therethrough, a Water-inlet pipe, perforated water-distributin g pipes arranged in the upper part of the condensing-chamber adapted to distribute water into the upper part of said compartment and'communicating with the Water-inlet pipe, an air-inlet pipe, perforated air -dstributing pipes arranged in said condensing-chamber adapted to distribute air into the lower part of said compartment, an air-exhaust fan in connection with the upper part of said condensingchamber adapted to withdraw the air from the air-distributing pipes upwardly through said compartment, means to admit the fumes orgases to be condensed into said chamber beneath said compartment, and a rotary spiral cylinder condenser in the lower part of the condensing-chamber.

1l. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases and the like, the combination of acondensing-chamber having inv its upper part a compartment containing a water suspending and diffusing medium,said compartment having a bottom adapted to permit the passage of the water therethrough, a water-inlet pipe,

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perforated water-distrib uting pipes arranged perforated air-distributing pipes arranged in said condensing-chamber adapted to distribute air into the lower part of said compart- Vment, an air-exhaustrfan inconnection with the upper part of said condensingnchamber;

adapted to withdraw the air-from the air-distributing pipes kupwardly throughthe said compartment, perforated walls in said con'- densing-chamber beneath said compartment formingV a passage forthe fumes or 5gases Vto be condensed and adapted to permit the pas-V sage of the water through the pe'rforatio'ns thereof, a gas or fume inlet pipe communicating with the passage so formed, and a rotary perforated Water-:distributing'pipes arranged in the upper part of the condensing-chamber adapted to distribute water into the upper part .of said compartment and :communicate ing with the Water-inlet pipe, an air-inlet pipe, i

' perforated air-distributingrpipes arranged in said condensing chamber adapted todistrib- Y ute air into the lowerl part of said compartment, an aire-exhaust fan in connection with the upper part Vof saidcondensingechamber adapted to withdraw the air from the air-disi tributing pipes upwardlyrthrough the said compartment, perforated'walls in said condensing-chamber beneath said compartment forming a passage'for thefumes: or gases to be condensed andadapted to permitV the passage .of the water through the perforations Y thereof, algas or fume inlet pipe communieating with the passage so formed, a rotary spiral cylinder condenser in the lower part of the condensing-chamber, a Water-exit pipe leading from the lower part of said condens- Ving-chamber. in eonnection'rwith-the water-inlet pipe, and means interposed in said Waterpipe connection from the lower to the upper part of the'condensing-chamberV to forceV the `Water therethrough.

' 13. In an apparatus for condensing fumes, gases'and Vthe like, the Vcombination ofthe condensingchamber of an open-work flooring in the upper part of the condensing-chamber Sti.Y

sustaininga waterfsuspending and diffusing medium, an air-inlet pipe,perforated air-'distributing pipes beneaththe open-work flooring communicating withthe air-inlet pipe, a perforated horizontal partition beneath the air-distributing pipes, Vperforated staggered horizontal wallsV beneath the said partition forming a passage for the fumes or gases, a :gas or'fume inlet pipe communicating with the passage so formed, a rotary spiral cylinder condenser in the lower part of the cond'ensinglchamiber, a water-pipe connection between the lower part of the condensing-cham berga'nd theupper part thereof, vwater-dis-l tributing pipes'in the Supper part of the oondensing-chamber communicating withl said pipe connection, an air-exhaust fan in connectionrwithithe upper part of the eondenss in g-chamber adapted to establish a current of air inthe condensing-chamber upwardly from Vthe air-distributing pipes, and means interposed in the water-pipe connection to force the waterV therethrough from the lower to the VupperV part of the condensing-chamber, substantially as described. Y

Intestimony ofwhich invention l havehereunto set my hand. Y HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE. Witnesses:

FRANK S. Bussen, CAROL H. DnsHoNe. 

